Road to the Collegiate Bowl: Washington State RB Jamal Morrow
In the weeks leading up the seventh annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 20 at the Rose Bowl Stadium, we will profile 10 draft-eligible players who have committed to play in the prestigious all-star game. Today’s feature is on Washington State running back Jamal Morrow.
Jamal Morrow was the perfect match for Mike Leach’s aerial offense at Washington State. Most running backs might shirk at the notion of being in such a pass-heavy offense, but Morrow has used his circumstances to become a complete offensive weapon.
As a freshman, Morrow found a way to make an instant impact on the football field. Although he only recorded double-digits carries twice that season, thanks to his soft hands and run-after-the-catch capabilities, he was a valued asset to the Cougars’ passing attack. In just his third and fourth games, Morrow had over 100 yards from scrimmage in consecutive weeks, including more than 70 receiving yards in each performance. His biggest output came midway through the season against Arizona, when he reeled in 11 catches for 118 yards.
Believe it or not, for all of Morrow’s offensive exploits, it wasn’t until the seventh game of his sophomore year that he scored the first two touchdowns of his collegiate career. He found the end zone again during Washington State’s win over Miami in the Sun Bowl, when he had 121 yards from scrimmage to lead the Cougars to their first bowl win in 12 years.
Morrow’s first rushing touchdown came in Week 1 of his junior year, sparking a campaign during which he was a nightmare for defenses. The versatile rusher finished the season with over 1,000 yards from scrimmage, 138 touches, and 10 total scores (five rushing, five receiving).
Morrow’s steady rise continued during his senior season. It began with an 89 rushing yards and a touchdown against Montana State, and was followed by a huge upset of USC, during which he gained 91 yards on just six carries to go with five catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Behind the senior’s impactful play and 1,028 total yards, the Cougars started 6-0 and ultimately were invited to the Holiday Bowl, where they fell to Michigan State. With 122 receptions for his career, Morrow finished as the third-leading receiver in school history, proving that even a running back can find his place in a pass-happy offense.
–David Chough
- Published in Bowl Game
Mike Martz, Darrell Green to Lead Teams at NFLPA Collegiate Bowl
For Immediate Release
January 3, 2018
Contact: Brandon Parker | Communications Manager
Brandon.parker@nflpa.com | 202-756-9160
MIKE MARTZ, DARRELL GREEN TO LEAD TEAMS AT NFLPA COLLEGIATE BOWL
Kicking specialist featured for first time among distinguished staff of former NFL players and coaches
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hall of Fame credentials and an abundance of professional football experience are featured among the two coaching staffs for the seventh annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
Mike Martz returns for a fourth straight year with hopes of remaining unbeaten as head coach of the National Team. Best known as the mastermind behind the St. Louis Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf,” Martz won a Super Bowl as the team’s offensive coordinator in 1999 before taking over as head coach from 2000 to 2005.
The American Team will also be led by a Super Bowl champion as Darrell Green makes his debut as a head coach. The Pro Football Hall of Famer and renowned Washington Redskins cornerback, who previously served as an assistant at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, brings 20 years of playing experience to the sideline.
Both coaches as well as the game’s participants will have former All-Pro Shayne Graham at their disposal as a kicking specialist, marking the first time that this coaching role has been featured at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
The seventh annual postseason all-star game will be played on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium, once again bringing together the top draft-eligible players from colleges and conferences across the country. The contest, scheduled for a 1 p.m. PST/4 p.m. EST kickoff, will be televised on FS1.
For the latest news and updates on the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, visit the game’s website at http://collegiate.nflpa.com/ and follow @NFLPABowl on Twitter.
Here are the full coaching staffs for the American and National teams:
NATIONAL TEAM
Head Coach: Mike Martz
Offensive Coordinator: Jon Kitna
Defensive Coordinator: Ron Meeks
Running Backs Coach: Lamont Jordan
Running Backs Coach: Ray Rice
Wide Receivers Coach: Torry Holt
Tight Ends Coach: Anthony Becht
Offensive Line Coach: Willie Anderson
Offensive Line Coach: Jackie Slater
Defensive Line Coach: Don Willis
Linebackers Coach: Chris Claiborne
Linebackers Coach: Chris Draft
Cornerbacks Coach: Dre Bly
Safeties Coach: Erik Coleman
Special Teams Coach: Jeff Robinson
Coaching Specialist: Dan Price
Offensive Coaching Intern: Akili Smith
Defensive Coaching Intern: Bruce Figgins
Kicking Specialist: Shayne Graham
AMERICAN TEAM
Head Coach: Darrell Green
Offensive Coordinator: Matthew Hatchette
Defensive Coordinator: Cris Dishman
Quarterbacks Coach: Charles Frye
Running Backs Coach: Carnell Williams
Wide Receivers Coach: Curtis Conway
Wide Receivers Coach: TJ Houshmandzadeh
Tight Ends Coach: Byron Chamberlain
Offensive Line Coach: Bob Connelly
Offensive Line Coach: Kevin Mawae
Defensive Line Coach: Mike Piel
Linebackers Coach: Lavar Arrington
Linebackers Coach: Adalius Thomas
Defensive Backs Coach: Dexter Jackson
Cornerbacks Coach: Everson Walls
Special Teams Coach: Brian Mitchell
Offensive Coaching Intern: Clifton Smith
Defensive Coaching Intern: Brandon McKinney
Kicking Specialist: Shayne Graham
###
About the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl:
Founded in 2012, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl gives prospective players the best opportunity to showcase their talents to potential employers and fans. Nearly 200 scouts, player personnel staff, general managers and head coaches from all 32 NFL teams are expected be in attendance to watch live practices, conduct player interviews and review tape.
About the NFL Players Association:
The National Football League Players Association is the union for professional football players in the National Football League. Established in 1956, the NFLPA has a long history of assuring proper recognition and representation of players’ interests. The NFLPA has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to assure that the rights of players are protected—including ceasing to be a union, if necessary, as it did in 1989. In 1993, the NFLPA again was officially recognized as the union representing the players, and negotiated a landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL. The current CBA will govern the sport through 2020. Learn more at www.nflpa.com.
- Published in Bowl Game
ROAD TO THE COLLEGIATE BOWL: Arkansas QB Austin Allen
In the weeks leading up the seventh annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 20 at the Rose Bowl Stadium, we will profile 10 draft-eligible players who have committed to play in the prestigious all-star game. Today’s feature is on Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen.
Austin Allen’s tenure at Arkansas might not have played out as he had initially imagined, but when looking back at his career, the quarterback delivered when healthy. After biding his time for the first two years, Allen emerged onto the college football scene during his junior year, displaying a vast array of physical tools whenever the ball was in his hands.
Allen showed that his time on the sideline allowed him to mature as a quarterback, starting with the second game of his third year. The Razorbacks went to TCU to take on the then-15th ranked Horned Frogs, and Austin Allen was not fazed in the slightest.
Down eight points and with just over two minutes remaining, Allen didn’t flinch. He calmly led Arkansas down the field in a minute, throwing both a touchdown and two-point conversion to tie the game. Once the game headed to overtime, Allen calmly put the Razorbacks on his back. He threw the touchdown to take the first points in the extended period, and in double OT, he ran it in himself for a 5-yard touchdown that sealed the victory.
That TCU game would just be the start for Allen. The performance kicked off a four-game stretch where he would throw for 10 touchdowns without an interception and eclipsed 350 yards passing in two of those games. Overall, he threw for 18 scores in his first seven games of the season, leading Arkansas to five wins along the way.
Allen’s efforts would culminate in a Belk Bowl appearance for Arkansas, where he threw for 278 yards, two touchdowns, and also ran for another score.
His senior year hit a temporary snag when the gunslinger suffered a shoulder injury. But he quickly returned to form by the close of the regular season. A fantastic game between Arkansas and Missouri would allow Allen to show his stuff, as he put up 313 yards, two passing touchdowns, and a rushing score before ultimately falling 48-45. Despite the loss, efforts like this make it clear that Allen left it all on the field during his time at Arkansas.
–David Chough
- Published in Bowl Game
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Moves to the Rose Bowl for Seventh Edition.
For Immediate Release
November 8, 2017
Contact: Brandon Parker | Communications Manager
Brandon.parker@nflpa.com | 202-756-9160
NFLPA COLLEGIATE BOWL MOVES TO THE ROSE BOWL FOR SEVENTH EDITION
Mike Martz, Darrell Green to coach teams in annual postseason all-star game on January 20
WASHINGTON, D.C. – One of the country’s most storied football venues will now be home to the premier postseason all-star contest featuring the top draft-eligible players from colleges and conferences across the country.
The seventh annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl will be played on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., which has been the site of five Super Bowls and numerous major college football games. The contest, scheduled for a 1 p.m. PST/4 p.m. EST kickoff, will be televised on FS1.
Founded in 2012, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl gives prospective players the best opportunity to showcase their talents to potential employers and fans. Nearly 200 scouts, player personnel staff, general managers and head coaches from all 32 NFL teams are expected be in attendance to watch live practices, conduct player interviews and review tape.
“With my circumstances in being a small guy from a [historically black college and university] like North Carolina A&T, the odds were stacked against me,” said Chicago Bears standout running back Tarik Cohen, who was drafted in the fourth round after playing in the 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. “Playing in the Collegiate Bowl helped get me the looks I needed, along with great advice from coaches, to be in the position I am today.”
Leading this year’s batch of players are two NFL legends: Super-Bowl winning coach Mike Martz, who is back at the helm for a fourth straight year, and Hall of Fame cornerback Darrell Green, who is making his debut as a head coach on the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl sidelines.
Perhaps best known for being the offensive coordinator behind the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” during their Super-Bowl winning season in 1999, Martz has become a staple in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. Using the wisdom acquired during his tenure as the Rams head coach from 2000-2005, Martz has led the National Team to victory in each of the past three NFLPA Collegiate Bowls. Martz’s presence exposes the game’s participants to a large network of NFL teams, as he has served in a variety of coaching and coordinator roles with the Rams, Redskins, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears.
After serving as an assistant coach in past years, Green will step into the head coach role and draw from 20 years of NFL playing experience. The renowned Washington Redskins cornerback has demonstrated a knack for connecting with the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl’s participants through stories about being overlooked out of college and consistently tabbed as undersized. In spite of this, the speedy All-Pro was selected to seven Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls with the Redskins during the 1987 and 1991 seasons.
Participants in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl have the unique opportunity to network with and learn from current and former NFL players. These veterans provide players with first-hand insight on what it takes to win on and off the field.
Since its inception, many players have gone on to promising careers in professional football, with notable Collegiate Bowl alumni including Cohen, San Diego Chargers linebacker Jatavis Brown (2016), Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Chris Conley (2015), Seattle Seahawks tight end Luke Willson (2013), New York Jets offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum and Oakland Raiders punter Marquette King (2012).
- Published in Bowl Game
2017 Collegiate Bowl Box Score
The National Team beat the American Team, 27-7, in the sixth annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. American defensive back Lorenzo Jerome of St. Francis (Pa.) was named the game’s MVP.
Click here to see the complete Box Score.
- Published in Bowl Game
Lorenzo Jerome Earns MVP Honors, National Prevails Again
For the sixth time in as many years, the National Team prevailed over the American Team, 27-7, in the 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. Though the result remained the same, this year’s game provided a new batch of budding talent on both sides of the ball.
Taquan Mizzell (Virginia) rushed for a game-record 93 yards to go with one touchdown on just 10 carries to lead the offensive charge for the National Team, coached by Mike Martz. Mizzell teamed with T.J. Logan (North Carolina), who had 63 yards rushing, to bolster the ground attack and open things up through the air.
National Team quarterback Philip Nelson (East Carolina) threw for 102 yards on 11-for-18 passing and also plowed ahead for the game’s first touchdown – a 1-yard run – in the first quarter. Nelson’s performance especially impressed Martz, who said after the game that he saw the former Pirates star as surefire NFL quarterback.
The National Team also got points from Miles Bergner (South Dakota), who connected on 27- and 45-yard field goals and off of a 15-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Isaiah Irving (San Jose State).
In the end, however, the American Team boasted one of the game’s brightest spots in former St. Francis (Pa.) defensive back Lorenzo Jerome. The ballhawking senior snagged two interceptions to earn game MVP honors and bolster his draft stock.
For more game details, please view the box score here.
- Published in Bowl Game
35 Collegiate Bowl Players Invited to 2017 NFL Combine
In its sixth year, the 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl boasted two of its most talented rosters to-date. The game’s MVP Lorenzo Jerome (St. Francis Pa.) along with 34 other players who participated in the game earned NFL Combine invites:
| Pos | First Name | Last Name | School |
| CB | Brian | Allen | Utah |
| WR | Kendrick | Bourne | Eastern Washington |
| OLB | Tashawn | Bower | LSU |
| OG | Ben | Braden | Michigan |
| ILB | Blair | Brown | Ohio |
| ILB | Riley | Bullough | Michigan State |
| TE | Cethan | Carter | Nebraska |
| RB | Tarik | Cohen | North Carolina A&T |
| OG | Ethan | Cooper | Indiana (PA) |
| TE | Darrell | Daniels | Washington |
| WR | Robert | Davis | Georgia State |
| DE | Dylan | Donahue | West Georgia |
| OG | Jermaine | Eluemunor | Texas A&M |
| CB | Shaquill | Griffin | Central Florida |
| CWR | Keon | Hatcher | Arkansas |
| RB | De’Angelo | Henderson | Coastal Carolina |
| WR | Krishawn | Hogan | Marian (IN) |
| S | Lorenzo | Jerome | Saint Francis (PA) |
| DT | David “D.J.” | Jones | Mississippi |
| OT | Javarius | Leamon | South Carolina State |
| OG | Cameron | Lee | Illinois State |
| QB | Mitchell “Mitch” | Leidner | Minnesota |
| OG | Corey | Levin | Chattanooga |
| RB | Tyrone “T.J.” | Logan | North Carolina |
| CB | Arthur | Maulet | Memphis |
| LS | Bradley “Brad” | Northnagel | California |
| WR | Zach | Pascal | Old Dominion |
| TE | Hayden | Plinke | UTEP |
| WR | Michael | Rector | Stanford |
| OLB | Pita | Taumoepenu | Utah |
| OT | Nathan “Nate” | Theaker | Wayne State (MI) |
| WR | Noel | Thomas | Connecticut |
| FS | Michael “Mike” | Tyson | Cincinnati |
| OT | Jerry | Ugokwe | William & Mary |
| WR | Greg | Ward Jr. | Houston |
- Published in Bowl Game